Milkweed Assassin Bug

I just wanted to share this interesting bug I found out in the field today. This little guy is called the Milkweed Assassin Bug! What an awesome name! I had to look this one up myself when the customer asked me what it was. So it’s true, even when you’ve been doing something for a long time, you always learn something new.

As you can see in the picture, these bugs are very small. They average 16-18 millimeters in length, with the females being bigger than the males. The vary in color around the globe, but in the United States they are primarily the Orange and Black color seen above.

The Milkweed Assassin Bug is not aggressive and normally do not bite unprovoked. However, if mishandled, their bite can lead to burning and swelling of the are, but will only last a few days. They are beneficial to the ecosystem since they will hunt other insects in your garden. Since they are predators and do not harm your lawn or shrubs, it is recommend to not treat for them when they are found.